Lifter for utensils.



H. H. HIGGINS.

LIFTER FOR UTBNSILS.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 21, 1911v 1, 1 1 3,21 5. Patented Oct. 13,1914.

YHE NORRIS PETERS c0 PHOTDVLITNO WASHINGTON. 0 c

UNITED STATES PATENT orrrcn.

HAROLD H. HIGGINS, OF NALTHAM, MASSACEUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 LAWRENCE E. KEAN, OF WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

LIFTER FOR UTENSILS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 13, 1914.

Application filed March 27, 1914. Serial No. 827,737.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HAROLD H. HIGGINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Valtham, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lifters for Utensils, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to lifters for pots, pans, dishes and other utensils.

The object of the invention is to provide a cheap and etficient means for lifting and carrying utensils, especially when hot, in which durability and simplicity of construc tion are combined.

Further objects of, and uses for, my inven tion will be apparentas the nature thereof is more fully disclosed by the following specification, and the accompanying draw ings, in which: I

Figure, 1 is a top plan view of the device in its normal or free condition; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the lifter in use, holding a dish shown in dotted lines; Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the device in its free or open condition; Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing the lifter operating to hold a dish; Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 55 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 6 is a perspective view .of the clamping jaws showing a slight modification; and Fig. 7 isa longitudinal center line section of the sliding jaw shown by Fig. 1. I

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the device illustrated comprises a wire spring member having the substantially parallel side portions or grips 10 and 11, which are connected by an end portion 12. The side portions of this member are equal in length and form the handle of the device. The extremities 13 and 14 of the sides 10 and 11 are connected together, and to a middle member 15, by means of links 16 and 17 and rivets 13' and 14 and 18, which act also as pivots about which members 1.6 and 17 are free to turn. The handle member, which is of ordinary steel spring wire, is so formed that its extremities 13 and 14 have a constant tendency to spring apart and the distance they will separate is limited by the links 16 and 17. These links 16 and 17, which are equal in length and pivoted together by rivet 18, are of any suitable shape but preferably U or channel shaped, as the ends of rods 10, 11 and 15 may then be flattened and inclosed by them so as to presenta smooth outer surface to thehand. The width of the handle member, which is the distance over the side grips 10 and 11, is such that the average sized hand can easily grasp it. The member 15 is also fastened to a sliding piece 19 which carries the aw 20 and U-shaped portions 21, the latter being in sliding engagement with the side grips 10 and 11. The sliding piece 19 is also provided with a flange 22 through which the rod 15 passes, the end of the rod being turned upward. and riveted into an opening 23. The slide 19 is preferably stamped entire from sheet steel and is thus very simple, cheap and strong. The sliding jaw 19 co-acts with the Ushaped end portion 12 of the handle member, this part being arranged at nearly a right angle to the plane'of the grips 10 and 11. Besides thus forming the stationary jaw of the lifter,-the end' portion 12 also limits the forward movement of the slide 19 byforming a 'stop against which the U-shaped portions 21 abut.

'In its normal-condition: with jaws apart, the spring action of the side grips 10and 11 tends to draw joint18inluntil the three pivots 13, 1 1 and 18 are on a straight line, but

this forward movement is stopped by the engagement of the slide 19 with the end portion 12 of the handle member, as above described. Pressure applied on the, grips 10 and 11 will overcome the counter spring ac tion, and cause the links 16 and 17, acting together, to force the joint 18 outward and thus draw the jaws together.

In using the device for lifting and moving pots, pans and other utensils from place to place, the flange or other projecting part of the article to be lifted is gripped between the jaws of the device and held thereby, as pressure is applied on the grips 10 and 11. The article is immediately released whenthe pressure is removed.

For clamping utensils having sides of peculiar shape, the movable jaw may be shaped to correspond. Fig. 6 shows a semicircular recess 20 in the jaw designed to admit the beaded rim of a utensil and Figs. 4 and 7 show a. raised portion 20 which creates a recess or space under the jaw to receive the flange of a vessel or an external bead thereon.

Numerous changes of form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principles as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a substantially U-shaped spring member, the sides of which constitute handles and the end of which constitutes one of a pair of cooperating jaws, a member slidable on said U-shaped member and carrying the other of said pair of jaws, and a pair of links pivotally connected with the sides of said U-shaped member and with said slidable member, whereby said jaws are opened and closed when said sides are actuated.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pair of spring moved handle members, a jaw carried thereby, a member slidable relative to said handle members and having a jaw adapted to cooperate with said first mentioned jaw, and a pair of links pivotally connected with said handle members and with said slidable member, whereby said jaws are opened and closed when said handle members are actuated.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pair of spring moved handle members, a jaw carried thereby, a member slidable on said handle members and having a jaw adapted to cooperate with said first mentioned jaw, and means connected with said handle members and with said slidable member, whereby said jaws are closed when said handle members are moved toward each other.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pair of spring moved handle members, a jaw carried thereby, a member between said handle members and longitudinally movable relatively thereto and having a adapted to cooperate with said first mentioned jaw, and a pair of links pivotally connected with said handle members and with said longitudinally movable member, whereby said jaws are opened and closed when said handle members are actuated.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pair of spring moved handle members having an end portion bent down to form a jaw, a member slidable relatively to said handle members and having a jaw adapted to cooperate with said first mentioned jaw and a pair of links pivoted to said handle members and to said slidable member in such a way that said links form a V with its point directed continually away from the members, whereby said jaws are closed when said handle members are moved toward each other.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pair of spring separated handle members, a jaw connected therewith, a jaw slidable relative to said handle members and adapted to cooperate with the first mentioned jaw, and means connecting said slidable jaw and said handle members, whereby the slidable jaw is moved toward the first mentioned jaw by moving said handle members together. I

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HAROLD H. HIGGINS.

\Vitnesses:

NATHAN A. TUF'IS, ESTHER G. VENO.

Copies of this patent may be ob ained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

